Congressman Sánchez today released a letter to Boeing CEO W. James McNerney, Jr. calling on the aerospace firm to select Long Beach, California as the manufacturing site for the next generation 777x airliner.

Congressman Sánchez joined letter author Congressman Alan Lowenthal and 45 other members of the California Congressional delegation in signing the letter which highlights the advantages to Boeing in selecting Long Beach as the home of the 777x.

These highlights include an in-place and highly-trained Boeing workforce, which is currently building the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III; an existing 1-million square foot assembly facility; a world-class infrastructure including highways, rail, and one of the most modern ports in the world; an educational system that turns out some of the world's most highly trained aerospace and engineering graduates; and, a highly developed local and regional system of parts and component suppliers.

"Boeing's newest production line has the potential to bring thousands of high-quality jobs to parts of my district," Congressman Sánchez said. "The workforce is ready and able, the technology is abundant, and the infrastructure is already set in place. California is world renowned for its high-tech minds and its cutting edge technology and aerospace manufacturing. This is a win-win for California and Boeing."

Various versions of the 777 have been manufactured by Boeing since the mid-1990s and the 777x program will see the construction of at least two new highly-modernized versions. The program could last through the 2020s, creating thousands of Boeing jobs in Southern California and thousands more support and supplier jobs throughout California.

Boeing announced in November that it would be seeking bids from interested states and/or cities for the 777x manufacturing work. California Governor Jerry Brown announced on Dec. 11 that California had submitted an official bid to Boeing to bring the 777x program to Long Beach. The bid package included the letter signed by Congressman Sánchez.